The Amersfoort Zoo elephant exhibit was awarded as the best new zoo exhibit of The Netherlands and Belgium in 2010...

Erik van Vliet entered the zoo world at twelve years old as a keeper at Wassenaar Zoo (1973), followed by an education in landscape design and biology at the Art School in Kampen and the University of Amsterdam. He consequently founded the team of zoo volunteers at Amsterdam Zoo, was invited to join the zoo design contest of Frankfurt Zoo in 1987 and graduated in European zoo legislation in 1991. In 1992, his company Erik van Vliet Zoo Design took a flying start with an ambitious design and masterplanning project for Safaripark Beekse Bergen. Followed by numerous cutting edge projects, like Ancient City (2001) and the award winning elephant exibit (2010). Both at Amersfoort Zoo, where he has also been a staff member since 1996 (head of design and education).

Publications:* Glory to the zoo freak, IZN, 2007. * Lets abolish the education department, IZN, Vol 55, No.4, pp194-195, June 2008. www.izn.org.uk * Interview in Argentinian newspaper La Nacion. (In spanish) www.lanacion.com.ar/1712658-disena-tu-propio-zoo* Exhibiting Zoo Animals by Erik van Vliet, The book that makes its author redundant. Schüling Verlag, 2015. ISBN 978-3-86523-258-8 This manual is a referential guide to zoo designers and to zoo staff wanting to critically direct, regulate or assist their design team. It aims at combining a zoo's mission, the awareness of quality design and the available techniques. Available at www.tiergarten.com for 49 euro including shipment.